The gentlemen were blessed through extra time, scoring nearly seven minutes after the full ninety to grab a (maybe) deserved 1-0 win. The belated goal came off the head of World Cup-villainized-cdm Ricardo Clark. The Venezuelan attack was centered around the counter-attack but had trouble against the oversized American bodies. Defensively, Venezuela succeeded in getting 9, 10, 11 men behind the ball and crowded the Americans. USA pushed up with their outside backs and sent crosses into the mix for chances.
Player Ratings
+7 - Parkhurst - (10...8.5/1.5...90') - Cleaned up every cross despite his smaller frame. A cerebral defender, indeed.
+6.5 - Cameron - (9.5...8/1.5...90') - A large reason why Venezuela's passing threat was a dismal 6.8 in the first half. Worked well with Parkhurst. Played more of the reserved role.
+5.9 - DeLaGarza - (10.5...8.2/2.3...90') - Got up the field and showed his footwork against a passive defender.
+5.6 - Shea - (11...8.3/2.7...90') - Smart crosses and created two positive chances on goal in the first half then went flat in the second half.
+5 - Jones - (12...8.5/3.5...90') - Everything went through him. Some hiccups but nothing costly. Was in great form. Wasted a FK at the end but sent beautiful corners into the mix.
+3.8 - Feilhaber - (7.2...5.5/1.7...62') - Earned the #10 jersey. Almost drew a penalty multiple times on a corner. Played a great ball to Shea for a one-on-one.
+2.5 - Zusi - (7.5...5/2.5...74') - Wasn't on the same page with the rest of the team. A little bit too aggressive? Not sure. Loved the hustle, though.
+2.3 - Pearce - (6.7...4.5/2.2...72') - Play went to the right side more and when it came to the left he did his job.
+2.2 - Wondolowski - (3...2.6/0.4...28') - Should have started over Bunbury, in hindsight.
+2 - Hamid - (2.4...2.2/0.2...90') - Enjoyed the vacation, I'm sure.
+1.7 - Larentowicz - (5.5...3.6/1.9...62') - Unseen against an already weak offense.
+0.9 - Loyd - (1.5...1.2/0.3...18') - Subbed in seemlessly.
+0.9 - Sapong - (1.7...1.3/0.4...16') - Created loads of chances in the 16 mintues of play. And tackled the goalie so that was cool.
+0.5 - Bunbury - (8.5...4.5/4...88') - Did a decent job at the striker position. Created some chances but could have held the ball up better and had some awful passes in the middle of the field or on a counter.
+0.5 - Clark - (2.5...1.5/1...28') - Did nothing until the goal and then he scored the game winning goal but we still are upset about the World Cup sooooo...
+0.3 - Evans - (0.5...0.4/0.1...2') - Can't start 12 but looked like he would have had a Diskerud-esque positive energy on the team. Ran back on defense to help out when he could have loafed it.
Subjective Point Graphs
First Half
USA - 38.37
Venezuela - 9.30
Second Half
USA - 91.00
Venezuela - 20.83
Full Game
USA - 129.37
Venezuela - 30.13
Momentum Graph
First Half
Dominance
USA - 22.2
Venezuela - 0.0
None - 77.8
None - 77.8
GG Rating - 40.0
Second Half
Dominance
USA - 48.9
Venezuela - 0.0
None - 51.1
None - 51.1
GG Rating - 64.4
Full Game
Dominance
USA - 35.6
Venezuela - 0.0
None - 64.4
None - 64.4
GG Rating - 52.2
Numbers
How to Beat Venezuela
Chapters
1. Feilhaber sets up an attack
2. How America Attacks (Pt. I)
3. Jones does something awesome
4. Good Bunbury
5. Bad Bunbury
6. Zusi and Bunbury - Right idea, poor execution
7. Shea outclasses Venezuela
8. Why you don't just sit back and wait. Must have a high press. (Pt. I)
9. How America Attacks (Pt. II)
10. Chaotic setup. Great off the ball movement. Jones looks silly.
11. Why you don't just sit back and wait. Must have a high press. (Pt. II)
12. Feilhaber getting mugged
13. Bunbury wastes counter attack.
14. Cameron handles a counter attack
15. Shea gets lazy
16. Jones, "Here ya go"
15. Shea gets lazy
16. Jones, "Here ya go"
Shea, "Oops"
Klinsmann, "******"
17. How America Defends a Counter (By Running, Duh)
18. How to not catch a ball
19. How to celebrate a game winning goal
18. How to not catch a ball
19. How to celebrate a game winning goal
1. I was really impressed with Feilhaber's movement and pass to Shea to set up the one-on-one.
2. America's attack was centered around pushing the outside backs up but also covering each other's positions.
3. Jones does something awesome and it doesn't involve a yellow card
4. Good Bunbury movement...
5. Bad Bunbury movement...
6. Zusi and Bunbury on the wrong page but right idea.
7. Shea outclasses Venezuela. Two minutes into the second half:
8. Why you don't just sit back and wait. Must have a high press.
9. How America Attack (Pt. II)
11. Why you don't just sit back and wait. Must have a high press. (Pt. II)
12. Feilhaber getting mugged. Pictures aren't great but I'm sure he remembers.
13. Bunbury wastes counter attack.
15. Shea gets lazy
16. Jones, "Here ya go"
Shea, "Oops"
Klinsmann, "******"
17. How America Defends a Counter (By Running, Duh)
19. How to celebrate a game winning goal. Side note, look how far the goalie backpedals and, rightfully so, ends up in the goal after diving for the ball.
